A/N: My plot bunny whacked me with a mallet so I've been going on overload with idea's!
She felt groggy and her head felt heavy. She couldn't see anything when she opened her eyes. Blindfolded. They had blindfolded her. As she turned her head, there was a hand on her shoulder. Her body was strapped, she realised as she tried to move. The hand on her shoulder tightened in grip. Footsteps heading in her direction made her tense and stay still. A deep male voice spoke softly.
"She is so valuable. The things I could do with her."
"Have you captured the x-men?" whispered a soft voice, like honey and velvet.
"Yes, all of them. I've been meaning to ask if I could have them once you're done."
"I know what you want Stryker. I can't let you kill mutants."
"We had a deal-"
"Deals can be broken by death."
"My men are waiting at Alkali Lake, they will kill the x-men if anything happens to me!"
"You're men are dead. As for you..."
Rogue listened as there was the familiar sound of a gun being cocked. The hand on her shoulder moved away and she felt someone lean near her ear.
"Stay calm." Whispered a female voice.
There was the sound of a gunshot and a body dropped. The velvet voice chuckled and she heard the man leave. There was a sigh from the woman next to her before something sharp pierced Rogue's neck and she fell back into darkness.
Rogue jerked awake and sprang up. Or least tried to. She began to panic when she couldn't move but calmed when she realised she was merely wrapped in Logan's arms. She blinked a few times as she took in her surroundings. She was in her room and yet the last thing she remembered was being in the kitchen.
"Logan? What happened?"
"You fainted from exhaustion."
"Oh!"
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah...just... another nightmare that I can't remember."
"Well, just think in a couple of hours we might find a key to the problem."
"Yeah."
She turned in his arms so that she was facing him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He squeezed her tight before rolling away. As she sat up, she noted how the world grew a little colder when she wasn't in his arms. Climbing out of bed out of bed she grabbed her robe and followed him into the bathroom. He was pulling off his t-shirt as she took off her own clothes. She looked up to see him staring at her, one eyebrow raised.
"You wanna shower first darlin'?"
"No. I thought it'd save time if we shower together."
He smirked and took his jeans off. She climbed into the shower and he climbed in right after her. The water was heavenly and it was even more heavenly as Logan began massaging her shoulders. His hands then moved into her hair. He rubbed her scalp and reached for the shampoo. She let out a moan as his hands rubbed the sensitive spot on the back of her neck. Just as she was falling under his spell the atmosphere broke when his fingers found the scar on the back of her head. Sighing, she stepped away and rinsed off the shampoo. They finished washing quickly and both climbed out. He wrapped her in a large towel and patted her on her behind. She giggled and walked back into their room. She changed into her clothes for the day and brushed wet hair, tying it up into a ponytail. Logan came out the bathroom, towel around his waist, cleanly shaven. She chuckled and pulled on her boots.
"I'm going to go get Theo, meet us in the kitchen."
"Sure." He replied.
She went out the door, closing it behind her and practically skipped towards Jean's room in the teacher's wing. Jean and Scott had the boathouse out back as their permanent home but were staying in the mansion until all the necessary renovations were made. The couple had yet to get married but everyone knew when it happened it would be a big event. Rogue had seen some of the wedding plans; it was going to take a huge chunk of Scott's money.
Chuckling to herself Rogue knocked on the door. There was some noise and the door was pulled to reveal a topless Scott Summers. Rogue smirked and raised an eyebrow.
"Hey good looking. The wife here?"
"We're not married yet."
"Technicality. Everyone sees you as married."
Scott chuckled and then his face became serious.
"I'm glad it's not awkward between us." He whispered.
"I don't want things to be awkward. I want to be normal."
"Normal?" he scoffed.
She chuckled and shrugged.
"Or something close."
He nodded and sighed. The door opened further and Jean stood there smiling with Theo on her hip. Rogue reached out and took her baby. He cooed and put his hand on her breast. She shook her head and waved goodbye. Walking into the kitchen she found Logan sitting at the counter and Kitty and Jubilee making breakfast. She handed Theo to Logan before sitting next to him.
"Roguey! Nice to see you up and about."
"Hey Jubes. You mind looking after Theo today?"
"No problem. I was thinking I could take TJ to the park."
Rogue considered the idea and looked at Logan who gave a brief nod.
"Sure."
"Yes!" screamed Jubilee.
"Eat your breakfast darlin'. We're leaving in an hour." Whispered Logan.
She nodded and reached over to take a fruit. Logan growled and she sighed and moved over to take a plate of bacon and eggs from Jubilee.
Four hours later Rogue, Kitty and Logan sat outside the office of Dr Alexander Hawke. Rogue sat in her chair fiddling with her bracelet. A large hand covered hers and squeezed tightly. She smiled up at Logan and winked at Kitty. A blonde woman walked out and nodded towards them.
"She'll see you now."
They stood up and headed into the office. The door was closed behind them, leaving them alone in the small office where a woman sat behind a desk. The office itself was painted light blue and had only a desk, four chairs and certificates on the wall. To the right was a door. Rogue and Kitty sat down on the seats as the woman behind the desk waved at them to sit down but for some reason Logan didn't. The woman behind the desk looked up, her face showing concern. But strangely she was staring at Rogue instead of Logan who was growling. Rogue took in the appearance of the woman. She looked the same as her picture except she had a pair of glasses perched on her nose, and there were dark circles under her eyes. Rogue turned to Logan with a frown.
"Sugar, what's wrong?" she whispered.
He ignored her and stepped forward.
"It was you." He snarled.
The doctor frowned at him and leaned back in her desk.
"Excuse me?"
"Logan, we're here just to talk to her." hissed Kitty.
"Her scent is the same as the inside of your car, Marie. Oranges, medicine and books. She was in your car and the one who knocked you unconscious."
Rogue's eyes widened in horror and she turned to the doctor who merely pursed her lips and stood up. She walked up and down before turning to face them with her arms folded.
"Sit down, Wolverine and I'll give you an explanation."
Logan growled and Rogue reached out and grabbed his wrist. She looked at him with pleading eyes until he eventually sighed and sat down next to her. The doctor nodded and sat back in her seat.
"It's always better to start with introductions. My name is Dr Alexander Hawke, I'm a geneticist and also a lecturer in genetics. You are Katherine, Logan and Marie. Part of Xavier's x-men. Call me Alex."
Rogue felt a little anger flare inside her at the way the doctor had a cool approach to everything. She let go of Logan's hand and leaned forward.
"Who's after me?" she asked.
"The same man that had you last time."
"Why?"
"Same reason."
"Which would be?"
"Your DNA."
Rogue frowned and Alex sighed. She stood up and gestured them to follow. She led them through the door on the right side of her office, which, once they entered, Rogue saw it was a lab. At the far end of the lab was a girl with blonde hair lying in some sort of chamber.
"This is Lisa. My niece. Three years ago she contracted a disease called Calypso. She's been in incubation ever since. The disease originated in Namibia. We were vacationing-"
"We?" asked Kitty.
"Me, my brother, his wife, Lela, and Lisa. Lela and Lisa unfortunately contracted the disease."
"Why didn't you and your brother contract it?"
"We're mutants."
They all stood around the incubation chamber gazing at the helpless child inside. Rogue looked at Lisa with sad eyes. The young girl looked pale, her skin almost blue and her blonde hair fanned out around her.
"How old is she?" whispered Rogue.
"Eleven. She contracted the cure when she was eight."
"Why do they call it Calypso?" asked Logan.
"The curse could only be lifted by the power of the gods. But the people believed that the curse was deserved, because we mutants stole our gifts from the gods. It was said to burn from within, making the personal feel trapped. That's why it's called Calypso. At least, that was what I was told. In theory it's a disease that breaks down everything in your body. Luckily I was able to create a drug that stopped the effects. But unfortunately that's all it does. It doesn't cure the victim."
"What is your mutation?"
"I can control, manipulate, locate and identify every gene, cell and tissue in the human body."
"What about your brother?"
"A teleporter. But he's long gone."
"I'm sorry." Whispered Rogue.
Alex shrugged and looked away. Logan stepped closer to her, arms folded in determination.
"What does all this have to do with Marie?"
"Simple. Her DNA contains the main anti-body needed for the cure. But since another anti-body was needed I deducted to my employer that the two could be joined within another organism."
"Theo." whispered Rogue.
"Your child, the child of you and Wolverine, would have had the perfect DNA to make a cure. But there was a mistake with the insemination. The sperm samples were mixed and well..."
Rogue nodded. That explained why Scott was the father. A mix up. She shook her head and stepped closer to Logan.
"Who is he? The man that keeps following me." she asked.
"My ex-employer. I... I don't know much about him. I'm sorry; he has a way of erasing memories."
"Why does he want the cure then?"
"Money. To be able to sell it to the entire world. The main things are that I'm done working for him, from what I can remember, he was cruel. He tried to kill you and your child so I secretly sent the co-ordinates to the x-men. I couldn't save your memory but I made sure I kept you and that baby alive. Secondly, he's weaker now and can't get you with everyone around you."
Rogue nodded and her gaze travelled back to the girl on the table.
"Alex?"
"Mm?"
"If the insemination had been a success and the baby was born, what then?"
"The child would need to host the cure until it can be harvested into a serum, and then the cure could be administered to victims."
"Could the disease come back?"
"No, it's a permanent cure."
"Marie?" asked Logan.
She looked up at him, her eyes pleading for him to understand.
"I could save people. We could save people. Just think if we tried to have another baby-"
Alex's laughing drowned her words out. All eyes turned to the doctor who was sitting on a chair by a computer screen.
"Marie, he's chasing you for a reason."
"What reason?" growled Logan.
"She's two weeks pregnant."
"WHAT!" exclaimed the three x-men.
Alex sighed and tapped her fingers on her desk impatiently.
"I can sense it. The baby's DNA. Have been able to for a while. I'm completely dumbfounded how he knows but he must. I mean why else would he start chasing you now."
"I thought something smelt different." Muttered Logan.
Rogue looked up at him in confusion.
"You must have known I was. Don't I smell the same as last time?" she asked him.
"No, it's different. It's faint."
"It's because she's not far along." supplied Alex.
Rogue shook her head. Everything was so much to take in. Logan wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her closer to him.
"Well, we better go see Hank."
"Yeah. Thanks Alex."
"Anytime. Here's my card. Call me if you need anything."
"Sure. Let's go."
Kitty nodded and stood up and Rogue leaned against Logan. They walked out of the university in silence; Rogue feeling more relaxed than ever. They climbed into the car, Kitty at the back and Rogue and Logan in the front. They buckled up and Logan started the car and took off. They sat in silence for a couple of minutes, each thinking about what had happened. Rogue wished the memories would come rushing back but still nothing. At least now she knew the purpose of Theo and why they wanted her. Then it hit her.
"Shoot, I forgot to ask about my skin."
"It's actually obvious." Said Kitty.
"Obvious?"
"You needed to be able to touch and they thought that maybe you mutation would cause a problem. So they helped-"
"Forced!" corrected Rogue.
"Forced you to gain control."
"How do you know this Kit?"
"Snagged a look on a few files."
"Anything else?"
"No, I think Alex purposely had those on the screen."
"I don't trust her." Declared Logan.
"It's the doctor/scientist thing right?"
Logan smirked and nodded. Rogue giggled and relaxed in her seat. A minute later her phone began to ring. She saw the caller ID was Jubilee and frowned. Pressing answer she put the phone to her ear.
"Jubes?"
"Rogue! Oh my god I'm so sorry! I... chica, you'll never forgive me but..."
"Jubes! What's wrong?"
"TJ is gone."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S GONE!"
"I was at the park and I looked away for about a second. Just a second... and ... well..."
"Where are you now?"
"Back at the mansion-"
Rogue ended the call and threw her phone down. By the pale look on Logan's face and the way the car sped up, she knew he had heard every word. She broke down in sobs and buried her face in her hands.
"My baby." She whispered.
